Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants of Semi-Tribal Area of Makerwal & Gulla Khel (Lying between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab Provinces), Pakistan

Amin Shah, Sarfaraz Khan Marwat, Faryal Gohar, Ameer Khan, Khizar Hayat Bhatti, Muhammad Amin, Noor Ud Din, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.
Department of Botany, Institute of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.
Department of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.
Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
University Wensam College Gomal University, Dera Imail Khan, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2013.41015                

Abstract

This paper is based on the results of an ethnomedicinal research work conducted in the semi-tribal mountainous area lying between District Mianwali (PunjabProvince) and District Karak (KhyberPakhtunkhwaProvince),Pakistanduring June 2009-July 2011. During field survey, questionnaires were used to interview the local inhabitants of the area. The ethnomedicinal data consists of 131 plant species (2 Pteridophytes, 7 Monocots, 122 Dicots) belonging to 48 families (2 Pteridophytes, 4 Monocots, 42 Dicots). The most commonly represented families were Amaranthaceae (9 spp.), Mimosaceae (8 spp.), Asteraceae and Papilionaceae (7 spp.) each; Solanaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Scrophulariaceae (6 spp.) each, followed by Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae and Polygonaceae (5 spp.) each. Plant specimens were identified, preserved and vouchers were deposited in the Plant Taxonomy Lab. of Department of Biological Sciences,University of Sargodha,Pakistanfor future reference. The data collected through interviews with the local people indicates that these species are mostly used in respiratory tract infections (RTI), urinary tract infections (UTI), digestive disorders, sexual problems, skin diseases, liver ailments, wound healing, blood vomiting, malaria, piles, epilepsy, jaundice, gummosis, round worms, hepatitis etc. in the area. Due to lack of scientific approach regarding harvesting and utilization of this valuable medicinal flora, many plants are quickly going towards extinction; therefore, further work is needed to create awareness in the community conservation of the precious medicinal plants.

Keywords

Ethnobotanical Study; Medicinal Plants; Makerwal & Gulla Khel; Pakistan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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